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UPDATED: PennDOT Highway Restrictions for Sandy

Travel is NOT advised during this storm.Be aware there are speed and vehicle restrictions on PA highways, especially in the eastern part of the state. This UPDATED info was released this morning by PennDOT:

Due to the dangerous wind speeds associated with Hurricane Sandy, beginning at 12:30 p.m. today the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) are expanding temporary speed limit reductions and some vehicle restrictions to eastern and south central Pa. roadways.

PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways:

Interstate 81 from the New York state to Maryland state border;

Interstates 78, 83, 84, 380, 176 and 76;

Interstate 283 and Route 283;

Interstate 80 east of Interstate 81;

Pennsylvania Turnpike from New Jersey to Carlisle and the Northeast Extension;

Route 581; and

U.S. Routes 15, 30, 22/322 and 33.

Also, in conjunction with similar restrictions imposed on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, these types of vehicles will be prohibited from traveling on the speed-restricted roadways:

Class 9 vehicles (Overweight and over-dimensional trucks);

Empty straight trucks;

Large Combination Vehicles (tandem trailers and doubles);

Tractors hauling empty trailers;

Trailers pulled by passenger vehicles;

Motorcycles; and

Recreational Vehicles, or RVs.

The agencies may expand highway restrictions if storm conditions warrant.

Earlier today, PennDOT and the PTC issued these speed and vehicle restrictions on the following highways:

Interstate 76 in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties;

Interstate 95 in Philadelphia, Bucks and Delaware counties;

Interstate 476 in Delaware and Montgomery counties;

Interstate 676 in Philadelphia;

Pennsylvania Turnpike in Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties;

U.S. Route 1 Extension in Philadelphia;

U.S. Route 1 in Bucks, Philadelphia, Delaware and Chester counties;

U.S. Route 30 Bypass in Chester County;

Route 63 (Woodhaven Expressway) in Philadelphia;

U.S. Route 202 in Chester County;

Route 309 in Bucks and Montgomery counties;

U.S. Route 422 in Montgomery County; and

Route 611 Bypass in Bucks County.

Vehicles in these classifications should pull over to a safe area and wait for the restriction to be lifted.

Although PennDOT recommends not traveling during intense storms, motorists can check road conditions on more than 2,900 miles of state roads by calling 5-1-1 or visiting www.511PA.com.